Armed Non-State Actors

The term armed non-State actors (ANSAs) encompasses a variety of entities. In the context of its mission, Geneva Call focuses on organized armed entities that are involved in armed conflict, which are primarily motivated by political goals and which operate outside State control, thereby lacking legal capacity to become party to relevant international treaties. These include armed groups, national liberation movements and de facto governing authorities. Geneva Call also works with non-recognized States as well as in situations of violence other than armed conflict if it is deemed that its action can have a positive impact on beneficiaries and lead to better protection for civilians.

Since 2000, Geneva Call has engaged around 100 armed non-State actors on four thematic areas and to date 59 of them have signed at least one of Geneva Call’s Deeds of Commitment.